a large red structure on a beach with Itsukushima in the background

Miyajima

Miyajima is known for the vermilion torii that appears to float at high tide, wild deer, and a ropeway up Mount Misen above the Inland Sea.

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Miyajima is an island in Hiroshima Bay, on the western Inland Sea, in Hiroshima Prefecture in western Honshu, Japan. Its name means Shrine Island, and it is also called Itsukushima. The draw is Itsukushima Shrine, where a large vermilion torii gate appears to float when the tide is high. The shrine and the primeval forest on Mount Misen have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996. Mount Misen is the island's highest peak, at 535 meters, with views over the Inland Sea.

Wild sika deer roam the streets. They are tame, but do not feed them: feeding has been banned since 2008 because deer have injured people carrying food. Maple trees turn crimson in autumn, and cherry blossoms appear on the upper hillsides in spring. The island is mountainous with few towns, so it suits a day trip from Hiroshima built around the ferry, the shrine, and a ropeway or hiking trail up Mount Misen. Stay overnight if you want more time on the forest trails.

Miyajima in five

Check tide times before you plan the toriiThe Great Torii looks afloat when the tide is above about 250 cm, and you can walk out to it when the tide is below about 100 cm. High and low tide are roughly 6–7 hours apart.Miyajima tide times for 2026
Pay the ¥100 visitor tax at the ferryIt is charged per person on top of the ferry fare, and children under 6 are exempt. Check the ferry company site for exemptions.
Arrive before 9am or stay past 4pmThe shrine opens at 6:30am from March to mid-October and the crowds thin in the late afternoon. Ferries run until about 10pm, so an evening visit is possible.Hiroshima and Miyajima in a day
Do not feed or tease the deerFeeding is banned on the island. Keep paper, bags and food out of sight and do not touch the animals, which are wild.
Take the ropeway to Mt Misen on a clear dayThe Miyajima Ropeway runs from Momijidani in two stages and takes about 15 minutes to the station near the summit. Check hours and wind closures on the day.

Things to do in Miyajima

See all attractions in Miyajima

white and brown boat on body of water near green mountain during daytime

Museum · MiyajimaMiyajima History and Folklore Museum

Temple · MiyajimaDaishoin

The orange Itsukushima Shrine torii gate standing in the water at Hatsukaichi, Japan

Sight · MiyajimaFloating Torii

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to MiyajimaPut the places you like in Miyajima on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Getting there: JR Sanyo line to Miyajimaguchi, then a 10-min ferry
Best base: Hiroshima for the trip; a ryokan on the island for quiet evenings
Time needed: Half to full day; overnight for dawn and dusk
Visitor tax: ¥100 per person per visit, paid with the ferry fare; ¥500 yearly option; under 6 exempt
Shrine entry: ¥300 adults; ¥500 with the Treasure Hall Read more

Weather by month

Rainy days

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh8°Low1°Cold, quiet
FebruaryPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh9°Low1°Cold, oysters
MarchRain10 rainy daysHigh13°Low5°Fewer crowds
AprilRain10 rainy daysHigh18°Low9°Cherry blossom
MayRain11 rainy daysHigh22°Low13°Mild, green
JuneRain15 rainy daysHigh25°Low17°Rainy season
JulyRain17 rainy daysHigh29°Low22°Hot, humid
AugustRain15 rainy daysHigh31°Low23°Hottest
SeptemberRain16 rainy daysHigh27°Low20°Typhoon risk
OctoberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh22°Low14°Clear, mild
NovemberPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh16°Low8°Autumn color
DecemberPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh10°Low3°Cold, quiet

Average daily high and low in Miyajima, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Miyajima

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 9°
Humidity: 71%
Wind: 9 km/h
Chance of rain: 0%

Miyajima

08:24 AM

Tuesday, November 3

GMT+9

Today21°14°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 21°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 0%.
Wed19°15°3%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 19°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 3%.
Thu20°17°73%Thursday: Drizzle. High 20°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 73%.
Fri20°11°22%Friday: Cloudy. High 20°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 22%.
Sat15°7°0%Saturday: Partly cloudy. High 15°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 0%.
Sun16°7°1%Sunday: Cloudy. High 16°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 1%.

Updated 05:06 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 157.5 JPY

Amount

Converted to

JPY · Japanese Yen

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Miyajima

Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city

Events calendar

Every year

MayHiroshima Flower FestivalHiroshima, a day trip

Day trips by train

Hiroshimaabout 25 min by JR plus a 10-minute ferryPeace Memorial Park, the museum and okonomiyaki.Read the guide
Iwakuniabout 30–40 min by JR from MiyajimaguchiKintai-kyo, a five-arch wooden bridge, and a hilltop castle.
Naoshimaabout 2.5 hours via Okayama and UnoAn art island in the Seto Inland Sea. Book slots ahead.Read the guide

Before you go to Miyajima

JR train and ferry to MiyajimaJR Pass covers the JR train and ferrySee pass prices

Guided Miyajima and Hiroshima dayLocal guide, shrine and Peace ParkCompare day trips

eSIM for JapanData on landing, no SIM swapRead the guide

Travel insurance for JapanMedical cover and delay coverRead the guide

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Rules for Miyajima, checked

The Miyajima visitor tax is ¥100 per person per visit, paid with the ferry fare, or ¥500 a year if declared in advance. Preschool children are exempt.Checked Oct 1, 2026 · Source
Itsukushima Shrine is open from 6:30am; closing time is 6:00pm from March 1 to October 14 and earlier in winter.Checked Oct 1, 2026 · Source

Plan around Miyajima

Hiroshima and Miyajima itinerary

A timed route from the Peace Park to the shrine at dusk

Read the guide Hiroshima travel guide

Peace Park, museum tickets and how many days to allow

Read the guide Where to stay in Hiroshima

Station, Hondori or Miyajimaguchi for the ferry

Read the guide JR Pass worth it?

The pass covers the JR ferry, but not the visitor tax

Read the guide Best time to visit Japan

Blossom, autumn color and typhoon season

Read the guide Best eSIM for Japan

Data plans compared for a first trip

Read the guide

Miyajima FAQ

Is Miyajima worth visiting?

Yes, if you are in Hiroshima anyway. The shrine on the water, the deer and the walk up to Mt Misen fill half a day. It is crowded midday, so go early or late.

How do you get from Hiroshima to Miyajima?

Take the JR Sanyo line from Hiroshima Station to Miyajimaguchi in about 25 minutes, then the 10-minute ferry. The JR Pass covers the JR train and ferry, but you pay the visitor tax separately.

Is there a fee to visit Miyajima?

A ¥100 visitor tax per person per visit is added to the ferry fare (a ¥500 yearly option exists). Itsukushima Shrine charges ¥300 for adults, or ¥500 with the Treasure Hall. The mountain and the town are free.

When is the best time to see the floating torii?

At high tide, when the water is above about 250 cm, the gate looks afloat. Check the daily tide table. At low tide, below about 100 cm, you can walk out across the sand to the gate.

Should I stay overnight on Miyajima?

Stay a night if you want the shrine and the streets after the day-trippers leave, and dinner at a ryokan. Otherwise the last ferries back run until about 10pm.

Can I do Miyajima as a day trip from Osaka?

It is possible: about 1.5 hours to Hiroshima by shinkansen, then 35 minutes to the island. It makes a long day with little time for anything else, so sleeping in Hiroshima is better.